Lallana's Left Peg

Good article - pretty fair summary of the last 24 months.

While I won't argue that he has had nothing more than a 'steady' time with us and that it might be nice to think we could attract some better players due to promotion, I think assuming he won't be signing permanently is a little short-sighted at the moment. Very rarely do you sign one of the better players on loan from another team without following it through with the permanent signing in the summer. And don't forget the way he left Oldham - the way the club portrayed the move on their official website. I wouldn't be surprised if he was signed, nor would I be surprised if he went back to Oldham. However, if he goes back to Oldham, he'll be joining a club of Saints size in the summer I've no doubt.

:lol:

I'm not so sure about that - he started against Plymouth in what was an extremely important game and with promotion virtually secured, the Walsall game was about the players who had been with us and contributed over the course of the season - that is why I think it was Chaplow, Chamberlain, and Harding that all came off the bench and not anyone else for a 'runout'. I don't think the door is closed on him at all and an Oldham supporter said they all think he will be signing permanently in the summer (would certainly be hard for him to go back after the way the club went public with his departure).

Despite our squad being full of players I'd consider better on the ball, there is something quite reassuring about seeing Hammond's name on the teamsheet because you know what you will get with him up and down the pitch all day doing his bit to put the gamewinners in a position to do their thing.

I don't know about family problems, but I do know his wife and kids still live in S****horpe.

Lets not worry about Poyet - he knows exactly how much he has over-achieved this season (and well done to him and them) because he is already starting the excuses for next season. Their best player clearly knows it too as he is showing no signs of signing a new contract, its hardly a ringing endorsement for whatever is being built there. Our own prospects are much better than theirs so lets allow this to play out and in 12 months time we can look back at this silly little spat with their club with a wry grin on our faces.

If you really want to wind them up, ask them why their Manager thinks they will struggle next year and why their best player is refusing to sign a new contract: http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2350375,00.html?

I don't really care who does it, I don't really agree that Huddersfield deserve it because finishing 3rd means you deserve the playoffs and not automatic. They have been great this season and should win the playoffs but if they don't go up it won't be unlucky for them since the reward for 3rd - 6th is playoffs and nothing more.

Up at 6.30 7am leave Manchester In Southampton for 11am - head to the city centre 1pm head towards the stadium to soak it all up 7pm leave stadium and see what is going on back in the city centre 10ish head back up the M6!

I'm confident of winning. Very anxious but I always am no matter what our chances of winning!

We've come in from 7/10 (1.7) to about 1/2 (1.5) overnight!

Nigel Adkins clearly likes a cliche in front of the camera but whatever he says to the players on a daily basis they are responding to very well. I suspect he is very much an 'arm around the shoulder' Manager who attempts to instil confidence in his players. They certainly haven't been paralysed with fear at all the past few weeks despite the situation were in being new to the club and many (if not all) of the players.

I live in Manchester but I was born in Southampton! Tend to go to all the away games I can - furthest South I travel is Coventry. Don't get to St Marys too often.

Bookies are amazingly confident in us - never seen us this short playing away from home against mid-table opposition: http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-one/brentford-v-southampton/winner

Very attacking team, hope we get the early goal to settle the nerves as worried what any team might be able to do to us on the break with that side. Still, very positive, and I like that.

Absolutely elated, superb character to come back and I said Connolly would get a vital goal and it appears he has. Nice to shove a win back in Brighton's faces (played their best team as well). The whole team must be buzzing now. A fantastic result. Was jumping all over the place when I saw that Fonte scored!

I agree with your first two points but more confusing than your fans manufacturing a bit of a one-way rivalry with us is the mini-obsession some of your players have with us (indeed, referencing it both in the media and in your own matchday programme). It seems a bit silly.

I love how wound up the Brighton fans are over Adkins. Have they always been this touchy? I suppose in lieu of a proper rival they must try and manufacture something each season for their own amusement but the vast majority of Saints fans I know are utterly apathetic towards them and Brighton. What a peculiar set of fans.

Not that I think Brighton will play a weaker team, but do the Football League have a similar rule as the Premier League regarding playing your strongest team?

Guly against Blackpool and Chaplow against Oldham are two that spring to mind.

As frustrating as he can be, in some ways his unpredictability is quite an important asset to our team because it prevents us from always being one dimensional. Now I am not defending him for ignoring the simple pass at times because I groan like the rest of you, but the fact he isn't so obvious is a very handy thing to have because whether meant or not he can often quickly make space for himself or others which is hard to defend against. He's an enigma for sure but I'd prefer him to Papa Waigo any day of the week.

It's not realistic just to go out and buy loads of established players and then expect many of them just to stay in reserve apart from when needed in a few games a season. Look at how Puncheon reacted when he effectively lost his place in the first choice 11 to Oxlade-Chamberlain. While I agree squad depth is important the blend needs to be right - we can't expect players of the same quality to just be waiting on the sidelines as they will get impatient eventually. Despite his injury concerns Connolly is a quality player to have in reserve and had he not been injured I imagine he'd be on loan elsewhere right now as I couldn't see him just wasting away the last moments of his career in our reserve team.

Because if neither team win it may allow him to go with a more conservative midfield / not risk anyone who is carrying an injury than if we needed the 3pts just to maintain our position. Especially as we have a game 48hrs later.

The injuries aren't good but this is why we have the squad we do. I've a sneaky suspicion that somewhere over the next few weeks Connolly is going to get a very important goal for us. No game for a week now, and Adkins can plan his team for the Brighton game based on how Posh and Huddersfield do on the Friday - both have challenging away games. Looks like we had plenty of shots on goal, so long may that continue!